Esther tattoos her woman story
ALEXANDRA – Woman uses 'different' storytelling platform in women's month.
Ikasi Gym’s growing client base has encouraged the 7th Avenue-based fitness agency to fundraise for expansion in whatever possible way.
They are planning for a new facility in Tsutsumani for the convenience of all health and fitness fanatics in the township. “We seek support in various legitimate ways including by tattooing those wanting to adorn their bodies,” gym founder and retired bodybuilder Tumi Masite, who is also an artist, said.
Some clients have put their bodies on line for the decorative work with one Esther Leshelele saying the platform was good for self exploration, messaging and personal fulfilment. This said as she endured stimulating pain as needles and ink pierced into her body, replaced limited blood which Masite wiped away leaving the part worked on, checkered and changed ‘forever’. “It can be restored to its natural state when necessary,” he mused in a manner encouraging to those who may want to risk the experiment.
Leshelele said she was willing to live with it as a way to reminding herself of and telling those who cared, her personal story. “The stencils superimposed on my body tell the story of my life which I can see to inspire me daily as I progress in life,” 35-year-old Mashele said referring to a picture of a flock of birds in flight on her back.
“They represent my going up in life from a divorced mother of one and former call centre worker who earned peanuts and now, a product specialist at a major media company who is able to fend for herself.”
She owns a motor vehicle and is house hunting. “The tattoos,” she added, “reflect, my journey of blood, sweat and tears and will help me and those who dare ask to be reminded that nothing is impossible in life.
“We should all strive and endure the pain in order to reach our goals,” this said as Masite worked on her lower leg another stencil of African women superimposed on an African map.
“Despite the hardships and pain we endure, it’s a symbol of pride which derives from the strengths which enable us to nurture children and families.”
The tattoo also includes flowers and reflected her blossoming life. “I have been wanting this but was afraid at first and now have overcome the fear and enduring the ‘limited’ pain to tell my story,”she said as Masite did the finishing touches on her.
Her sister displayed her name, Jo Anne tattooed on her foot as she relived her own experience. “Friends at high school had them and why not also live through the experience and fit in,” she said smiling. A friend to Masite also popped in and displayed his own with a message that only God is the judge. “I grew up as a naughty boy but have reformed not from public judgment but the belief that only God is the one there to judge all of us.”
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